South Korea’s veteran filmmaker Im Kwon-taek will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 25th Singapore International Film Festival in December, fest organizers announced Wednesday.
The 78-year-old will take home the Honorary Award for “his lifelong contribution to the development of the film industry,” according to the festival’s organizing committee. The award ceremony will take place on Dec. 13 during the festival’s run from Dec. 4-14. A special showcase will show his signature work including Mandara (1981), Village of Haze (1982) and Revivre (2014), his 102nd film that premiered at Venice.
The prolific director has compiled his long filmography since debuting in 1962 with Farewell to the Duman River. Im has built a reputation for portraying traditional Korean themes and aesthetics through such films as the 2002 Cannes Best Director-winning Chihwaseon starring Oldboy/Lucy star Choi Min-sik.
In addition to being a Korean fixture on the international film fest circuit, he has also enjoyed considerable box-office success at home with hit action films and artsy dramas. Last year a museum dedicated to Im opened in Busan.
